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San Fruttuoso is one of the most unique and special places in all of Liguria and definitely warrants a visit if you are vacationing in the Tigullio Gulf. It is tucked away in a tiny, pristine bay between Camogli and Portofino surrounded by lush vegetation . To add to its exclusiveness, you can only reach it by sea or on foot, hiking the near nature trails of the National park of Portofino.There are several attractions to visiting the place. One is its charming Abbey which has an interesting and rich history from being a monastery to a pirate’s den to a humble fishermen home and then the residence of Princess of Doria.The complex also hosts cultural events and shows: the Abbey and the 16th century tower hosts temporary exhibitions and in summer, classical music concerts are performed in the cloister of the Abbey (I Concerti Dell’Abbazia). A special ferry service operates for these concerts.

San Fruttuoso is one name that isn’t brought up really often when it comes to visiting the Italian Riviera. It’s one of the tiniest beaches in Italy and you can literally walk from one end to the other in less than 3 minutes!San Fruttuoso is divided from the main road by a small tunnel walkway and a set of narrow stairs. This means that you will need at least 2-3 hours of hiking in order to reach this beach on foot. You cannot reach San Fruttuoso by car and the only other alternative is taking a ferry from Portofino.

San Fruttuoso is a slice of ancient tranquillity preserved amid some of Italy's busiest coastal resorts. There are no roads here thank heavens! Come here with the Ligurians to swim, sunbake and eat a seafood lunch in the sun.

San Fruttuoso di Camogli is neither port nor resort. Not much more than an indentation along a mountainous coastline, accessible only from the sea or on foot. But it has two powerful attractions. One is an ancient Benedictine monastery and the other the Christ of the Abyss. The monastery is a lovely stone building with a small dome, which straddles the beach. Parts are medieval, some Romanesque, and the burial vaults of the aristocratic Doria family of Genoa are here. Until nature decided to throw up a beach in quite recent times, boats moored directly under the supporting arches of the monastery and could unload directly into the cellars. You can still walk beneath these arches and find the odd boat or two resting on the stones out of the weather. There is some exploring to do at San Fruttuoso, but the main monastery building and the sixteenth-century watch tower a short walk away (combined ticket for a few euros) are not always open: local information offices can supply the details.

The Christ of the Abyss (Cristo degli Abissi) is an above-life-size bronze statue a little way offshore and over fifty feet (15m) under the sea. You can see a replica in the church next to the monastery (no charge). It has only existed for a few decades, being commissioned after a drowning, but both the idea and the sculpture itself are deeply poignant. In season, and when boats are bringing visitors in, it's possible to pay for a few minutes' trip out from the shore and see the statue itself through a glass-bottomed contraption. Far down in the dim waters, Christ's face and arms are raised towards the source of light. This has become something like a shrine to divers and a pilgrimage site. If San Fruttuoso were south of Rome rather than north we should be hearing of miracles. A copy has been placed in the warm waters of Florida.

San Fruttuoso is a gorgeous cove that you can only reach by boat or by foot. It’s a unique destination and one of the most scenic places in Liguria.The easiest way to get there is to take a ferry from Portofino. The trail in the national park of Portofino is very enjoyable but will take much to long if you only have a day. During summer time the bay can get fairly crowded, avoid getting there during week ends if possible.